Taunton police arrest 3 at 40 Tremont St.

TAUNTON — A Tremont Street apartment that has garnered a reputation as a heroin crash pad, according to police, was the scene of a disturbance that landed three people behind bars Thursday night.

Joseph Washburn, 36, was arrested on charges of disorderly conduct after police say he tried to provoke a fight with officers responding to a disturbance call at the rear apartment of 40 Tremont St.

Another man and a woman were also arrested, both of them on outstanding warrants. They were identified as Julie Freeman, 26, 363 Albany St., and Luis Ruiz, 40, 326 Bedford St.

At least five people are suspected of having overdosed on heroin during the past two weeks in the rear unit of the Tremont Street house — including two reported overdoses in a single day — according to police, who have also responded to disturbance complaints.

Police Chief Edward Walsh said Friday he’s been in contact with a potential buyer interested in acquiring the property. Walsh said he would assist the buyer in terms of taking legal steps to evict problem tenants so that the property can be cleaned up.

Police said when they arrived at the house at 9 p.m., they were eventually let into the small, two-bedroom apartment by Ruiz, who they described as breathing heavily and being red in the face.

In addition to Ruiz, who police led outside and frisked for weapons, police say four other men and two women were inside the apartment. Police said they recognized one of them as someone who had overdosed “several times” during the past few weeks.

All of them, cops said, had been consuming alcohol and were uncooperative. They were frisked for weapons and needles, but police did not report finding any contraband.

They all, police added, claimed to be residents of the apartment.

At one point, police said, a car pulled up across the street. Two men got out, both of whom allegedly then walked into the driveway past parked cruisers and approached officers. Both of them, cops said, claimed to also be residents of the apartment.

Police warned them to stay away while they conducted their criminal investigation. One of them allegedly muttered under his breath and left, but Washburn, cops said, refused to leave.

Instead, they said, he became increasingly belligerent, raising his voice and causing a commotion.

Police said Washburn called cops liars, claimed he was “tough,” assumed a fighting posture and told them to lock him up for disorderly conduct. Detective Robert Kramer then handcuffed Washburn and placed him in the backseat of a cruiser.

The department has recently pledged to work with city landlords who have problem tenants.

Walsh said it’s possible the house at 40 Tremont St. could be subject to a foreclosure short sale, where the selling price is less than what is owed by the current owner.

The house, according to Bristol County Registry of Deeds, has been owned by Stephen P. Kujanpaa of Middleboro since 2004. That year, Kujanpaa took out a mortgage loan for $332,350 with Accelerated Home Lenders Inc. of San Diego — which in 2011 transferred ownership to Deutsche National trust Co., acting as trustee of a trust in Santa Ana, Calif.

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